After reading the abolitionist writings of Grimke, Truth, Douglass and Garnet what do think of the tone of their writing? What lines or ideas stand out to you a important (and of course why?) Do you think that they are forceful enough in their argumentation against slavery?
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After reading the abolitionist writings of Grimke, Truth, Douglass and Garnet, I feel as though the tone was calm and meant to be understood. For example, all the writings start off gentle, addressing specific people. I know this when the text states, "BRETHREN AND FELLOW CITIZENS" (Garnet, 1), "Fellow Citizens, I am not wanting in respect for the fathers of this republic." (Douglass, 1), "Men, brethren and fathers -- mothers, daughters and sisters." (Grimke, 1). These introductions are very direct and calm towards the audience.
There are various phrases that catch my attention. For example, the text states, "As a Southerner I feel tbrt it is my duty to stand up here to-night and bear testimony against slavery" (Grimke, 1). I selected this quote because it shows how a slave in the South feels as though it's his responsibility to take the lead and guide others.
In the abolitionist writings, I do think they are very forceful in their argument against slavery. They use persuading and informing words to catch the attention of the audience.
After reading the abolitionist writings of Gimke, Truth, Doughlass and Garnet I think that the tone of their writing is a tone that you use when you do speeches. They are speaking calmly to the citizens.
The quote that I find that sticks out to me the most is by Truth. The quote says " Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman?" This quote sticks out to me because the sentence before that Truth wrote " That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages,and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere" But Truth is saying that even though she's a women just because of her skin color she gets treated differently and just because she was a slave.
I think that they are forceful enough in their argumentation because they used convincing words and sentences.
After reading the abolitionist writings of Grimke, Truth, Douglass and Garnet I think that the overall tone of their writing is punctual and thought provoking. Instead of attacking the reader with brute force and pointing the finger like some of the previous pieces that we have read these writings had had a more subtle approach that made the reader sympathize with the author. The authors used logistics and emotional appeal to capture the reader. A line that stands out to me is "They have become worldly-wise, and therefore God, in his wisdom, employs them not to carry on his plans of reformation and salvation. He hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak to overcome the mighty." in Grimke writing "they" being white people.This is a perfect example of how the author uses clever wording to reveal the truth instead of blatantly bashing the other race.I think the authors use a different kind of force in their argument against slavery. They use an intellectual rather than a harsh and brutal force. A forced not used through exclamation marks but question marks and a play on words.From that perspective i think the authors are indeed forceful in their arguments.
After reading the abolitionist speeches/writings of Truth, Grimke, Douglass, and Garnet I felt empowered and in the need to help someone who needed it. These speeches were very calm and straight to the point. They were also very convincing.Grimke states "There is nothing to be feared from those who would stop our mouths, but they themselves should fear and tremble." This quote stood out to me because she is stating how nothing they're doing is wrong, that the slave holders should fear what comes to them next and what their punishment would be from God almighty himself. Another quote Grimke states that dragged in my attention was "Women of Philadelphia! Allow me as a Southern woman, with much attachment to the land of my birth, to entreat you to come up to this work." She is calling out to woman! For them to feel empowered and feel that not only men can take charge. Which leads me to Sojourner Truth with her calm yet powerful and meaningful speech. She says That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! Ain't I a woman?" This quote was so powerful and insightful! She says "Intellect- what does that have to do with women's rights or negroes' rights?" these speeches stressed womens rights just as much as they supported Black rights. That had me curious as to what went on with women during that time. Grimke is touching when she states "Man cannot enjoy the former wile his manhood is destroyed." "A slave would dance in his chains, but he was not happy. He was mirthful and there is a wide difference between happiness and mirth." Mirthful meaning wanting to be glad and make the best out of what they had at that moment. Garnet states "They(slaves) came from their lands with broken hearts, from their beloved native land, and were doomed to unrequited toil and deep degradation." This one quote makes a human heart tremble. It's very touching. All these speeches are heart warming and not willing to fight but come to conclusion. Even during Grimkes speech there was a mob and she kept repeating herself when being interrupted by the noise outside saying CALMLY how God will punish them later and that no one of the slaves or abolitionists should be frightened by them for they;ll have a reward for humanity.
I thought that the tone of the writings was soft but assertive. I really agree with Blessing when she said that the speakers were being intellectual without harshly denouncing the white race.
My favorite of all the pieces was Frederick Douglass' speech. I thought it was amazing how he canceled out all possible opposition. He said, "I hear some in the audience say, 'It is just in this circumstance that you and your brother abolitionists fail to make a favorable impression on the public mind. Would you argue more, and denounce less; would you persuade more, and rebuke less; your cause would be much more likely to succeed.'" But his response was, "What is there to argue? On what branch of the subject [slavery] do the people of this country need light? Must I undertake to prove that the slave is a man?...There is not a person beneath the canopy of heaven that does not know that slavery is wrong for him." He also brought up the point that there were 72 crimes that if committed by a black man would subject him to the death penalty. Douglass said, "What is this but the acknowledgment that the slave is a moral, intellectual, and responsible being?" These laws recognized the fact that black slaves were men with responsibility. He said when you can't "distinguish the slave from the brute, then will I argue with you that the slave is a man!" I can really imagine that his speech made people uncomfortable. Yet they needed to be corrected for celebrating liberty while they held millions in slavery.
I agree with everyone who said that all of these writings have a calm tone. I also think that the works of Grimke, Truth, Douglass, and Garnet are very firm and unwavering. "There is not a man beneath the canopy of heaven that does not know that slavery is wrong for him. What, am I to argue that it is wrong to make men brutes, to rob them of their liberty, to work them without wages, to keep them ignorant of their relations to their fellow men, to beat them with sticks, to flay their flesh with the lash, to load their limbs with irons, to hunt them with dogs, to sell them at auction, to sunder their families, to knock out their teeth, to burn their flesh, to starve them into obedience and submission to their masters?" This quote was in Douglass' speech. Douglass plainly states that slavery is wrong and no one can honestly say that they don't know that. Garnet basically says the same thing: "Brethren, it is as wrong for your lordly oppressors to keep you in slavery as it was for the man thief to steal our ancestors from the coast of Africa."
These writings are very forceful, indeed, however the calm, composed tone is an interesting change from the aggressive, bordering on violent, tone we have encountered before.
After reading the abolitionist writings I think that the tone was a desire to be heard. Grimke, Truth, Douglass, and Garnet were all trying to get a point across. Grimke stated about the abolishment of slavery, "One petition two miles and a quarter long has been presented. And do you think these labors will be in vain? Let the history of the past answer." This line stands out to me because she is questioning whether abolitionist are wasting their time by putting up a fight. Then she answers it by saying let the past history tell us if we should keep going on with this. Sojourner Truth states in her speech, "If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again!" This stands out because it means two different things to me. I think she is trying to say that women need to work together to make things right again and also that men couldn't stop one woman from doing something so major so why should they be able to stop many women.
Fredrick Douglass said somethign that really stood out to me also. Douglass said, "Must I undertake to prove that the slave is a man? That point is conceded already. Nobody doubts it." This caught my attention because he is making his point without arguing with anyone. He is simply just stating facts that everyone knows. However Garnet made his point a little differently. Garnet told a story of how the blacks felt. One line that stood out to me was, "The first dealings they had with men calling themselves Christians, exhibited to them the worst features of corrupt and sordid hearts;" He is telling how black people felt when they first encountered the Europeans.
I think they are forceful enough in their argumentation. I believe the audience felt their pain and understood where they were coming from. They were forceful but they also did it in a respectful way so that it didn't come off too angry.
After reading the Abolitionist speeches of Grimke, Douglass, Truth, and Garnet, I came to the conclusion that none of those authors were hateful towards the time-bandits, rather, they were straight to the point and blunt in a respectful manner. I say this because in Douglass's piece, he says, "The signers of the Declaration of Independence were brave men" (Douglass, 1). I believe Douglass begins his speech by praising the men of this country and how he means no harm towards them. Even though he speaks about slavery and its cruelty, he never says anything violent or harsh towards the whites.
The Angelina Grimke piece is very straightforward but very respectful. "We may talk of occupying neutral ground, but on this subject, in its present attitude, there is no such thing as neutral ground. He who is not for us is against us, and he that gathereth not with us, scattereth abroad."(Grimke, 3). This quote stuck out to me because this showed me how during the Atlantic-Slave trade, there were only two sides to choose from; no if, and's, or but's about it. But throughout that paragraph, Grimke was polite about her reasoning and made her point.
I also came to the conclusion that these speeches were meant to be inspirational with no harm or rebellion intended, rather a relaxing and thoughtful speech meant to give you the truth without seeking vengeance. "That man over there says that woman need to be helped into carriages... Nobody ever helps me into carriages.... And ain't I a woman?" (Truth, 1). Even though this speech was written after slavery had ended, Truth is explaining what she saw and what she still has to go through, all because of her race, yet she does not speak in an offending tone towards the white race; rather she is stating the truth of the matter.
These speeches show you how these leaders were able to speak their minds without hinting at a rebellion; rather have the blacks speak their minds without having to use violence. They were convincing and captivating in their inspirational thoughts towards the abolitionist movement and the whites. In a way, their speeches had me thinking, is violence ever the answer? In my opinion, I believe these four abolitionist writers were thinking the same thing. They may have been forceful but never harmful. They may have been truthful and brutally honest but they never hinted at aggression towards the white race. Instead, they were calm and peaceful, just stating what's on their minds.
After reading the remarkable writings of Grimke, Truth, Douglass and Garnet I thought about the way they presented there thoughts. The tone that I saw frequently while reading was bold and empowering. There are so many examples to be found. For instance when Douglass says "pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here to-day?"In my opinion it was a strong question and he gave of a bold confidence.He didn't just sit there and give some fake speach, he said his true opinion. While maintaining a calm and collective demeanor. I found this part in "Ain't I a Woman?" To be especially powerful "I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman?" She has done so much more than most woman yet she still isn't given the respect she deserves. That says something about her character and how she manages to stay strong I respect her so much for that. There writings spoke so much to me I can only imagine the effect they had on the many others that have read their writings also.
The tones of the writings are strong and sarcastic. For example,"...Must I argue that a system thus marked with blood, and stained with pollution, is wrong? No! I will not. I have better employment for my time and strength than such arguments would imply.(Douglass)" Throughout Douglass' speech, he was sarcastically jabbing at the audience and making his voice known. He even ask why did they ask him to come to celebrate liberty and freedom for America while his people are unable to have the same virtues. In Grimke's speech, she is a strong force because she refuse to be frighten although there is an mob outside the hall and continue to her speech on how slavery is wrong. to For example, "What is a mob? What would the breaking of every window be? What would the leveling of this Hall be? Any evidence that we are wrong, or that slavery is a good and wholesome institution ? What if the mob should now burst in upon us, break up our meeting and commit violence upon our persons -- would this be any thing compared with what the slaves endure? No, no..(Grimke)" In conclusion, the writings of these abolitionist was compelling enough for the argument against slavery.
After reading The abolitionist writings of Douglass,Truth,Grimke,and Garnet, one can conclude that the tone of their writings are bold and they are speaking their minds without any harm to the time bandits. All the writings began in a peaceful matter but yet addresses the specific group of people in a powerful manner. "in the meaning of Douglas speech" the line "Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?. Douglass knows the answers to all the questions but he also wants to point out to the citizens that they too know the answers to these questions but yet they continue to celebrate the holiday with people still enslaved. In truth speech, "ain't i woman", the line that stands out the most to me is, "That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman?" similar to Douglass, truth also uses the people words against them and ask them questions. I think the speeches are forceful enough against slavery because they state their opinions and asks rhetorical questions regarding if slaves are man and are bold in the choice of words they use.
After reading the abolitionist writings of Grimke, Truth, Douglass and Garnet I think that their tone of writing is calm and respectful. In all four writings they address the people in a respectful manner.For example, "Men, brethren and fathers -- mothers, daughters and sisters"(Grimke),"Well, children"(Truth), "..Fellow-citizens, pardon me,.."(Douglass),"BRETHREN AND FELLOW CITIZENS"(Garnet).
A line that sticks out to me is, "I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common"(Douglass, The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro).It stands out to me because he says that the independence which they celebrate is not shared with them(colored people).Another line that sticks out is "SLAVERY! How much misery is comprehended in that single word?" because when I hear the word slavery, i do think of all the misery colored people went through.
Yes, I think that they are forceful enough in their argumentation against slavery because they were very persuasive
After reading the writings of Grinkle, Truth, Douglas and Garnett, my conclusion of the tone is silent fury. I don't understand how it could be calm. Would you be calm about your rights being supressed or over looked? Would you be able to say calmy " I am a human but don't give me rights"? I think people are confusing assertive and direct speech with calmness. Angelina Grinkle says "I was unaware that any efforts were made to deliver the opressed". That to me sounds like someone taking frustration and turning it into a productive work.
In any matter, while all these speeches were good, I had the strongest reaction to Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman?"speech. I like how she adresses everyone as children and gives a brief of what the men are doing and then says " that man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me". I could relate because women are a supress group, but colored women especially. Ms. Truth for a second ignited my frustration over that. How men place us in a box of shoulds and shouldn't but never want to assist.
After reading the abolitionist writings of Grimke, Truth, Douglass and Garnett I think that the tone of their writing is calm and controlled. I think this because especially how they stated who they were talking about. Douglass began saying, "Fellow Citizens, I am not wanting in respect for the fathers of this republic..." Grimke began, "Men, breathen and fathers -- mothers, daughters and sisters, what came ye out for to see?" Truth began saying, "Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter." Lastly, Garnet begins saying, "BRETHREN AND FELLOW CITIZENS: -- YOUR BRETHREN OF THE North, East and West have been accustomed to meet together in National Conventions, to symphatize with each Other, and to weep over your unhappy condition." These opening sentences of the speeches are calm and relaxed not like angry, or said with hatred.
In these abolitionist writings, I think that they are forceful in their argument against slavery because they try to persuade and get the attention of the people, they seem as though they really believe what their saying in the speeches.
Somethings that stuck out to me in these speeches is in Garnet's speech, "SLAVERY! How much misery is comprehended in that single word? What mind is there that does not shrink from its direful effects? Unless the image of God be obliterated from the soul, all men cherish the love of Liberty." This piece of the passage I think was exactly what Garnet was talking about in the whole speech. Garnet got very upset because he just can't take how slavery can be so cruel and bad.
Another passage that stuck out to me was in Douglass speech is, "Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the constitution and the Bible which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery N the great sin and shame of America!" Douglass starts saying that he won't stop the abolition movement because he knows its only right to continue this journey, fighting for the slaves, until every single slave is no longer a slave, but free.
I agree with a lot of what you all are saying. When anyone is trying to make a point (especially being of this topic) you have to come at the crowd/audience in a forceful, kind of bias, calm, respectful, and fact filled manor. This reading did just that to the point where if I was against everything that was said before...I most definitely agree now. The lines that stood out to me the most was when it talks about how the fourth of july isnt celebrated with blacks in mind. It isnt celebrated for independence and freedom because the blacks didn't feel for or feel like they had any bit of equal independence as the "others"
I believe the tone of the abolitionist writings of Fredrick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Henry Highland Garnet,and Angelina Welds are all calm, inquisitive, respectful, yet they keep the audiences attention at the same time. Each abolitionist starts out addressing the audience that he\she are talking to. For example "Men, brethren and fathers -- mothers, daughters and sisters, what came ye out for to see?" (Welds, 1).
Each abolitionist then moves on to ask self explanatory questions that already have answers to prove their points. Fredrick Douglass asked "must i undertake to prove that the slave is a man" (Douglass, 1). He then goes on to say "Nobody doubts it. The slaveholders themselves acknowledge it in the enactment of laws for their government" (Douglass, 1). sojourner truth asks her audience "Aint i a women" (Truth, 1). This question is self explanatory, people can look at her and tell shes a women. But the point she is trying to make is that all women should be treated equal regardless of race. Angelina Welds ask "what is the north to do with slavery" (Wields, 1). Everyone in the audience knows that the "spirit of the slave is here".
When Angelina wields said "It is admitted by some that the slave is not happy under the worst forms of slavery. But I have never seen a happy slave. I have seen him dance in his chains, it is true; but he was not happy." (wields, 1). I found this interesting because she is saying that slaver has made people happy but the slaves are never happy.
After reading the abolitionist writings of
Gimke, Truth, Doughlass and Garnet I
think that the tone of their writing is calm and collective but forceful
The quote that I find that sticks out to
me the most is by Truth. The quote says
" That man over there says that women need
to be helped into carriages,and
over ditches, and to have the best place
everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any
best place! And ain't I a woman?" This
quote stands out to me because it explains how Truth is degraded because of the color of her skin and her race. This also shows how slaves werent respected enough to be called men or women.
I think that they are forceful enough in
their argumentation because they addressed their argument with the right amout of anger and persuasion. They weren't just trying to be violent.They were perfect
I agree with my classmates on the fact that all these writings had a very serene and clam manner to them. I also think that these writers are very solid on their point of views towards this subject, it seems that they know what they agree with and cannot be swayed otherwise. Many quotes stuck out to me but one really spoke to me, which said: "I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common." This quote stood out to me because Douglas is talking about how Independence day is supposed to be a celebration for the freedom of Americans. Nevertheless, instead of bringing everyone together during a time of joy, it’s separating them since blacks didn’t have this “independence” which was being celebrated. Without a doubt I think these writers are very forceful enough in their arguments. They used many examples of pathos which really made me feel an emotional connection to the subjects in which they spoke on.
These articles are very appealing and show how serious they all feel about these topics . I feel that the tone of these passages are calm and understanding . Each abolitionist starts with addressing there readers with many quotes and ideas to start off what they will be describing . They all prove there points with facts and there opinions . These abolitionist really explain in full detail of how to look back on the views of aboiloning slavery. I like these articles they gave me a better look on how to look back at what happen on an better perspective .
I feel as though the tone was calm and meant to be undersThe quote that I find that sticks out to me the most is by Truth. The quote says " Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman?". She is calling out to woman! For them to feel empowered and feel that not only men can take charge.
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